Robert Hunter

First Name: 
Robert
Last Name: 
Hunter
Date Enlisted: 
Saturday, August 15, 1914
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Lieutenant
Unit: 
Engineers Signal Company
Awards: 
Military Cross
1914/1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Details: 

Robert Hunter (Service no 21) was born in Wollongong, NSW in 1890.

At the time of enlistment in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Robert was single, 23 years of age, employed as a civil servant with the Tax Office in Perth, WA and had previously served with the Militia.  Robert had listed his mother who resided in Boulder, WA as his next of kin.

Robert embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on 20 October 1914 as a Corporal, having been promoted on 26 August 1914, on the HMAT A10 - Karoo with the Engineers Signal Company, Section 4.

After arriving in Egypt, he was sent to Gallipoli, Turkey with the first day troops. Robert was promoted to Sergeant at Gallipoli, Turkey on 3 August 1915.

Robert arrived in France on 25 March 1916 and was promoted to Second Lieutenant on 29 July 1916 and to Lieutenant on 25 November 1916.

He received no injuries during his service but there is a reference to a treatment for exposure to gas on 31 May 1918.   Robert was returned to Australia in October 1918 for the special 1914 leave and discharged in Perth, Western Australia on 27 January 1919.

An article in both the Evening Star Newspaper - 9 November 1919 and the Kalgoorlie Miner Newspaper on 29 July 1919 refer to Robert being awarded the Military Cross.  The citation reads, For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the attack on Chuignee and Chuigmolles, on 23 August, 1918.  Robert organized and maintained the Brigade communications during the advance of 3 miles over fire swept ground and in spite of gas and machine gun fire kept his report centre close behind the attacking line, and sent back information with the minimum of delay.  Owing to the early information the Brigade obtained through his efforts, the first success was extended for more than a mile with corresponding increase of prisoners and captured material. Commonwealth Gazette No 67 dated 3rd June 1919.

 

 

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, HUNTER R LIEUTENANT/21

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